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Determining fatty acids by desorption/ionization mass spectrometry using thin-layer chromatography substrates

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Abstract

In this study, we demonstrate the application of ambient mass spectrometry for measuring fatty acids from various biological sample matrices such as olive oil, fish oil, salmon, and human serum. Optimum performance was obtained after spotting samples onto thin-layer chromatography (TLC) plates as sample substrates for a custom-built solvent-assisted desorption/ionization mass spectrometry (DI-MS) interface. Good to excellent linearities (coefficients of determination, 0.9856 to 0.9977) and reproducibilities (average 6 % relative standard deviation (RSD) using syringe deposition) were obtained after application of an internal standard. Signal suppression phenomena were minimized by separating the analytes by TLC to some extent prior to DI-MS, leading to a fourfold increase of signal-to-noise ratios as compared to single spot mixture analysis without TLC separation.

Solvent-assisted desorption/ionization-mass spectrometry

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Acknowledgments

GC acknowledges a fellowship from Rotary International (District 2120, Molfetta, Bari, Italy) for his research visit to Saarbrücken. The authors acknowledge Chemia s.r.l. (Bironto, Bari, Italy) for the GC analyses. DAV is grateful for general research support by the Alfried Krupp von Bohlen und Halbach-Stiftung.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Bioanalytical Chemistry, Saarland University, Campus B2 2, 66123, Saarbrücken, Germany

    Mario F. Mirabelli, Giuseppe Coviello & Dietrich A. Volmer

  2. Ospedale Specializzato in Gastroenterologia, Saverio de Bellis, Via Turi 27, 70013, Castellana Grotte, Bari, Italy

    Giuseppe Coviello

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  1. Mario F. Mirabelli
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  2. Giuseppe Coviello
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  3. Dietrich A. Volmer
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Correspondence to Dietrich A. Volmer.

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Published in the topical collection Mass Spectrometry Imaging with guest editors Andreas Römpp and Uwe Karst.

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Mirabelli, M.F., Coviello, G. & Volmer, D.A. Determining fatty acids by desorption/ionization mass spectrometry using thin-layer chromatography substrates. Anal Bioanal Chem 407, 4513–4522 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00216-015-8630-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00216-015-8630-5

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